Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia today announced the immediate start of the process to disburse the $ 600 aid to citizens, both residents of Puerto Rico, after receiving approval from the Federal Treasury for the Distribution Plan of the second round of the Economic Impact Payment.
“I am very pleased to inform you that we already have the federal government’s authorization to implement the distribution plan for the additional Economic Impact Payment of $ 600 and today the first payments are being made which will be reflected in the bank accounts of thousands of citizens over the next few days.I must acknowledge the work of the secretary of the Department of Finance, Francisco Parés Alicea, and his work team, who were able to formalize the agreements with the Internal Revenue Services (IRS), and get approval within 23 days after the legislation is signed at the federal level.There is no doubt that this aid will be a relief for many families who have been impacted. adversely by the emergence of the COVID-19 and we will be diligently working to complete the disbursements in the shortest possible time, ”the first president expressed.
On December 28, 2020, just a few hours before the signing of the federal law that gives way to this second round of payments of $ 600, known as the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020 (CRTRA, for its acronym in English ), the Department of the Treasury submitted to the IRS for consideration a draft of the Distribution Plan. The first $ 1,200 Economic Impact Payment plan took 36 days to be approved.
“About 23 days after submitting our proposed draft to the IRS, we already have a Distribution Plan approved by the Federal Treasury and just hours after receiving this authorization we began the process for sending the $ payments. 600. As we advanced, this process of disbursements will be much faster because in 95 percent of cases, the Department already has the bank information needed to make the direct deposit.We have established a work plan that includes hundreds of thousands of payments consecutive, almost daily, over the next few weeks. “, the secretary explained.
This new $ 600 federal aid will reach about 2.8 million people, whether as individuals, couples or dependents, representing a total of approximately $ 1.7 billion.
Parés Alicea estimated that most payments, which will be $ 600 per individual and $ 600 per qualified dependent, or $ 300 in shared custody cases, will be completed by mid-February. “In three to four weeks, 95 percent of people who qualify for this new help, will have their money deposited or their check in process,” he assured.
Under federal law, these additional $ 600 payments will be received by individuals with valid Social Security, who have been resident in Puerto Rico during the tax year, and who have not been claimed as dependents on the Contribution Record Sheet. about Another person’s income.
Under the new CRTRA law, eligibility guidelines make certain areas more flexible for more citizens to qualify. For example, under this Distribution Plan inmates may be eligible to receive payment of the $ 600. No withholding will be made for outstanding debts with the Administration for Child Support (ASSUME). In the case of married couples, at least one of them will be required to have a Social Security number that validates with IRS protocols.
On the other hand, the secretary stressed that the Unified Internal Revenue System (SURI), will be operating tomorrow, Wednesday, January 20, exclusively in the distribution of aid, therefore, will not be available for no other transaction, at least for 24 hours.
“Aware of the need for people to receive payment of $ 600, we will give priority to the deposit of this money, temporarily suspending in a preventive manner all services offered through SURI. In this way, we are also protecting the system to avoid further setbacks and to ensure that we successfully comply with this extraordinary fundraising agenda. As of Thursday, January 21, 2021, SURI will be operating at full capacity. ” explain.
The interruption of SURI coincides with the filing date of the monthly sales and use tax (IVU) payroll, which traders submit on the 20th of each month. However, Parés Alicea indicated that both the form and the corresponding payment with this form, as well as any other declaration, notification, review appeal or any other procedure or payment of contribution the due date is January 20, 2020 , extends until Monday, January 25, 2020.
Parés Alicea reiterated that most people who received the $ 1,200 do not have to do any paperwork in SURI if they maintain the same bank account, so they do not need to enter SURI. On the other hand, he stressed that there is a link available to SURI only for those people who changed the bank accounts where they received the $ 1,200, either as a result of the recent merger between two banks or because they opened new accounts. . The link is also available for those who received the first payment of $ 1,200 by check and want to receive the additional $ 600 by direct deposit.
You do not need to register with SURI to change your account number. It is accessed through the Federal Economic Impact Payment link on the main page suri.hacienda.pr.gov and then to the Update your Account Information option. If you need assistance, write through the Suri Support link which is also on the SURI homepage.